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Posted: 8/1/2010 3:49:01 PM EDT
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Just got done loading up some .223. All Fiocchi brass. All cases are proper length.
When I loaded them up into a mag the case feeds fine but will not eject. the bolt sticks closed and I need to pound the buttstock on the floor to eject the case. Im still new to reloading so am wondering what the problem is. Cases are all within the acceptable lengths. When I use new ammo it feeds and ejects fine. On the cases are slight rub marks. I have a picture but it is not very clear. I can post it up if anyone wants to see it. Thanks. |
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Just got done loading up some .223. All Fiocchi brass. All cases are proper length. When I loaded them up into a mag the case feeds fine but will not eject. the bolt sticks closed and I need to pound the buttstock on the floor to eject the case. Im still new to reloading so am wondering what the problem is. Cases are all within the acceptable lengths. When I use new ammo it feeds and ejects fine. On the cases are slight rub marks. I have a picture but it is not very clear. I can post it up if anyone wants to see it. Thanks. I am no expert being new to reloading myself however the first question to come to mind was did you full length size your brass. I check my brass with a case gage and full length size them every time. While doing this I have found brass that will not fit or gets stuck in the case gage even after being size. |
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Just got done loading up some .223. All Fiocchi brass. All cases are proper length. When I loaded them up into a mag the case feeds fine but will not eject. the bolt sticks closed and I need to pound the buttstock on the floor to eject the case. Im still new to reloading so am wondering what the problem is. Cases are all within the acceptable lengths. When I use new ammo it feeds and ejects fine. On the cases are slight rub marks. I have a picture but it is not very clear. I can post it up if anyone wants to see it. Thanks. I am no expert being new to reloading myself however the first question to come to mind was did you full length size your brass. I check my brass with a case gage and full length size them every time. While doing this I have found brass that will not fit or gets stuck in the case gage even after being size. Yes Im full length sizing my brass. |
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You need to bump the shoulder of the case back some more, you'll either have to pull the bullets and do it with your FL die or buy a Redding body die and you can bump the shoulders back with the ammo still loaded, take your pick. Which would you recommend? Is one easier/ better for the brass and bullet? |
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Just got done loading up some .223. All Fiocchi brass. All cases are proper length. When I loaded them up into a mag the case feeds fine but will not eject. the bolt sticks closed and I need to pound the buttstock on the floor to eject the case. Im still new to reloading so am wondering what the problem is. Cases are all within the acceptable lengths. When I use new ammo it feeds and ejects fine. On the cases are slight rub marks. I have a picture but it is not very clear. I can post it up if anyone wants to see it. Thanks. I am no expert being new to reloading myself however the first question to come to mind was did you full length size your brass. I check my brass with a case gage and full length size them every time. While doing this I have found brass that will not fit or gets stuck in the case gage even after being size. Yes Im full length sizing my brass. I am sure you are full length sizing your brass, but how did you adjust your die and how are you checking the cases after they are sized? There are two lengths you need to be concerned with, overall case length and the headspace distance. As has been mentioned, you are not getting the shoulder sized down enough and it is causing extraction issues. The easiest way to check your sized cases is with a case gauge. I have a dillon one, but wilson and several other mfgs make them as well. If you don't have one of these, I would strongly suggest getting one before continuing to load for a semi-auto. How many do you have loaded up now? I would suggest getting a bullet puller if you don't already have one. A kinetic bullet puller will not hurt your bullets and you will be able to re-use all of your components. |
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Your sizing die needs to be screwed down lower into the press for more sizing.
The sizing die needs to be adjusted properly before any other loading takes place. If you have any unloaded cases, adjust the sizing die down 1/16 of a turn. Wipe off lube and see if the empty case will chamber. If no, turn down die another 1/16 turn, lube and size case. Repeat until case fits chamber like a factory load. If all of your cases are loaded, you will have to pull the bullet, dump the power (save for reuse) lube and resize the case. Wear eye protection and work press handle slow with light pressure and the live primer will pop out. Save primer for reuse. If you had a case gauge your not sized enough case would look like this, Dillon gauge shown, 
Bad, end of case above end of gauge, will have chambering issues. 
Good, case below end of gauge, but above the .002 cut. This is what you want. When properly adjusted the bottom of the die will touch the shellholder, that's normal. Adjust you sizing die and tell us how it went. Good luck. |
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You need to bump the shoulder of the case back some more, you'll either have to pull the bullets and do it with your FL die or buy a Redding body die and you can bump the shoulders back with the ammo still loaded, take your pick. Which would you recommend? Is one easier/ better for the brass and bullet? Depends on how many you have loaded, if you loaded a few 100 I would get the body die and adjust it to bump the shoulder down so the rounds will chamber and be done with it, you'll find many uses for it over time and be glad you bought it. You still need to adjust your sizing die so the rest of your sized cases will work with any future ammo you make like has been mentioned above, and if you do get a bullet puller I recommend getting the Hornady Cam-lock collete puller as it's much easier and faster to pull the ammo down and you don't loose anything(you'll loose powder and make a mess with one of those cheap hammer pullers, I have one and it's junk compared to a good press puller) and the bullets will be scratch free when pulled with the cam-lock puller. |
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One other thing to check - is this a new (or relatively new) rifle? Did you do a good job cleaning out the chamber? My daughter's AR had this same issue when it was new, a good cleaning of the chamber solved the problem with no need to change my reloads for her rifle... |
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Thanks for the advice guys. I adjusted the die and now they are ejecting just fine. But Im getting some light scratches or rubs on the brass and bullet, is that normal? Yes, and when you fire the rounds you will have a nice half moon mark from the ejection process. Nothing to worry about. Glad to hear your sizing die issue is solved. 
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Thanks for the advice guys. I adjusted the die and now they are ejecting just fine. But Im getting some light scratches or rubs on the brass and bullet, is that normal? Yes, and when you fire the rounds you will have a nice half moon mark from the ejection process. Nothing to worry about. Glad to hear your sizing die issue is solved. Thanks! Glad their nice people here to help me out. 
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Thanks for the advice guys. I adjusted the die and now they are ejecting just fine. But Im getting some light scratches or rubs on the brass and bullet, is that normal? Yes, and when you fire the rounds you will have a nice half moon mark from the ejection process. Nothing to worry about. Glad to hear your sizing die issue is solved. Thanks! Glad their nice people here to help me out. You say brass and bullet so I'm presuming your chamber checking your live ammo in the gun. You have scratches down the side of the brass and particularly the bullet. That's the ejector pressing the cartridge to the right and dragging on the barrel extension where the locking lugs are and the lip of the ejection port. There is a fair amount of pressure there that's needed to eject the case from the rifle on firing or the cartridge upon manual extraction. It's normal and not an issue. |
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